# Energy density

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Energy density is the amount of energy stored in a given system or region of space per unit volume or mass, though the latter is more accurately termed specific energy. Often only the useful or extractable energy is measured, which is to say that chemically inaccessible energy such as rest mass energy is ignored.[1] In cosmological and other general relativistic contexts, however, the energy densities considered are those that correspond to the elements of the stress–energy tensor and therefore do include mass energy as well as energy densities associated with the pressures described in the next paragraph.

Energy per unit volume has the same physical units as pressure, and in many circumstances is a synonym: for example, the energy density of a magnetic field may be expressed as (and behaves as) a physical pressure, and the energy required to compress a compressed gas a little more may be determined by multiplying the difference between the gas pressure and the external pressure by the change in volume. In short, pressure is a measure of the enthalpy per unit volume of a system. A pressure gradient has a potential to perform work on the surroundings by converting enthalpy until equilibrium is reached.

## Introduction to energy density

There are many different types of energy stored in materials, and it takes a particular type of reaction to release each type of energy. In order of the typical magnitude of the energy released, these types of reactions are: nuclear, chemical, electrochemical, and electrical.

Chemical reactions are used by animals to derive energy from food, and by automobiles to derive energy from gasoline. Electrochemical reactions are used by most mobile devices such as laptop computers and mobile phones to release the energy from batteries.

### Energy densities of common energy storage materials

{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||$N=Unreferenced section |date=__DATE__ |$B= {{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||$N=Unreferenced |date=__DATE__ |$B= {{#invoke:Message box|ambox}} }} }} The following is a list of the thermal energy densities of commonly used or well-known energy storage materials; it doesn't include uncommon or experimental materials. Note that this list does not consider the mass of reactants commonly available such as the oxygen required for combustion or the energy efficiency in use.

The following unit conversions may be helpful when considering the data in the table: 1 MJ ≈ 0.28 kWh ≈ 0.37 HPh.

Storage material Energy type Specific energy (MJ/kg) Energy density (MJ/L) Direct uses
Uranium (in breeder) Nuclear fission 80,620,000[2] 1,539,842,000 Electric power plants (nuclear reactors), industrial process heat (to drive chemical reactions, water desalination, etc)
Thorium (in breeder) Nuclear fission 79,420,000[2] 929,214,000 Electric power plants (nuclear reactors), industrial process heat
Tritium Nuclear decay 583,529 ? Electric power plants (nuclear reactors), industrial process heat
Hydrogen (compressed) at 70 MPa) Chemical 142 5.6 Rocket engines, automotive engines, grid storage & conversion
methane or natural gas Chemical 55.5 0.0364 Cooking, home heating, automotive engines, lighter fluid
Diesel / Fuel oil Chemical 48 35.8 Automotive engines, power plants[3]
LPG (including Propane / Butane) Chemical 46.4 26 Cooking, home heating, automotive engines, lighter fluid
Jet fuel Chemical 46 37.4 Aircraft
Gasoline (petrol) Chemical 44.4 32.4 Automotive engines, power plants
Fat (animal/vegetable) Chemical 37 34 Human/animal nutrition
Ethanol fuel (E100) Chemical 26.4 20.9 Flex-fuel, racing, stoves, lighting
Coal Chemical 24 Electric power plants, home heating
Methanol fuel (M100) Chemical 19.7 15.6 Racing, model engines, safety
Carbohydrates (including sugars) Chemical 17 Human/animal nutrition
Protein Chemical 16.8 Human/animal nutrition
Wood Chemical 16.2 Heating, outdoor cooking
TNT Chemical 4.6 Explosives
Gunpowder Chemical 3 Explosives
Lithium battery (non-rechargeable) Electrochemical 1.8 4.32 Portable electronic devices, flashlights
Lithium-ion battery Electrochemical 0.36[4]–0.875 0.9–2.63 Laptop computers, mobile devices, some modern electric vehicles
Alkaline battery Electrochemical 0.67 1.8 Portable electronic devices, flashlights
Nickel-metal hydride battery Electrochemical 0.288 0.504–1.08 Portable electronic devices, flashlights
Lead-acid battery Electrochemical 0.17 0.56 Automotive engine ignition
Supercapacitor Electrical (electrostatic) 0.018 Electronic circuits
Electrostatic capacitor Electrical (electrostatic) 0.000036 Electronic circuits
Energy capacities of common storage forms
Storage device Energy type Energy content (MJ) Typical mass Specific energy (MJ/kg) W × H × D (mm) Uses
Automotive lead-acid battery Electrochemical 2.6 15 kg 0.17 230 × 180 × 185 Automotive starter motor and accessories
Sandwich[5] Chemical 1.47 145 grams 10.13 100 × 100 × 8 Human nutrition
Alkaline AA battery Electrochemical 0.0154 23 g 0.616 14.5 × 50.5 × 14.5 Portable electronic equipment, flashlights
Lithium-ion battery [6] Electrochemical 0.0129 20 g 0.645 54.2 × 33.8 × 5.8 Mobile phones

## Energy density in energy storage and in fuel

Selected energy densities plot

In energy storage applications the energy density relates the mass of an energy store to the volume of the storage facility, e.g. the fuel tank. The higher the energy density of the fuel, the more energy may be stored or transported for the same amount of volume. The energy density of a fuel per unit mass is called the specific energy of that fuel. In general an engine using that fuel will generate less kinetic energy due to inefficiencies and thermodynamic considerations—hence the specific fuel consumption of an engine will always be greater than its rate of production of the kinetic energy of motion.

The greatest energy source by far is mass itself. This energy, E = mc2, where m = ρV, ρ is the mass per unit volume, V is the volume of the mass itself and c is the speed of light. This energy, however, can be released only by the processes of nuclear fission (.1%), nuclear fusion (1%),{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }} or the annihilation of some or all of the matter in the volume V by matter-antimatter collisions (100%). Nuclear reactions cannot be realized by chemical reactions such as combustion. Although greater matter densities can be achieved, the density of a neutron star would approximate the most dense system capable of matter-antimatter annihilation possible. A black hole, although denser than a neutron star, does not have an equivalent anti-particle form, but would offer the same 100% conversion rate of mass to energy in the form of Hawking radiation. In the case of relatively small black holes (smaller than astronomical objects) the power output would be tremendous. The highest density sources of energy aside from antimatter are fusion and fission. Fusion includes energy from the sun which will be available for billions of years (in the form of sunlight) but so far (2011), sustained fusion power production continues to be elusive. Fission of uranium and thorium in nuclear power plants will be available for a long time due to the vast supply of the element on earth,{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }} though the full potential of this source can only be realised through breeder reactors, which are, apart from the BN-600 reactor, not yet used commercially.[7] Coal, gas, and petroleum are the current primary energy sources in the U.S.[8] but have a much lower energy density. Burning local biomass fuels supplies household energy needs (cooking fires, oil lamps, etc.) worldwide.

Energy density (how much energy you can carry) does not tell you about energy conversion efficiency (net output per input) or embodied energy (what the energy output costs to provide, as harvesting, refining, distributing, and dealing with pollution all use energy). Like any process occurring on a large scale, intensive energy use impacts the world. For example, climate change, nuclear waste storage, and deforestation may be some of the consequences of supplying our growing energy demands from carbohydrate fuels, nuclear fission, or biomass.

No single energy storage method boasts the best in specific power, specific energy, and energy density. Peukert's Law describes how the amount of useful energy that can be obtained (for a lead-acid cell) depends on how quickly we pull it out. To maximize both specific energy and energy density, one can compute the specific energy density of a substance by multiplying the two values together, where the higher the number, the better the substance is at storing energy efficiently.

Gravimetric and volumetric energy density of some fuels and storage technologies (modified from the Gasoline article):

Note: Some values may not be precise because of isomers or other irregularities. See Heating value for a comprehensive table of specific energies of important fuels.
Note: Also it is important to realise that generally the density values for chemical fuels do not include the weight of oxygen required for combustion. This is typically two oxygen atoms per carbon atom, and one per two hydrogen atoms. The atomic weight of carbon and oxygen are similar, while hydrogen is much lighter than oxygen. Figures are presented this way for those fuels where in practice air would only be drawn in locally to the burner. This explains the apparently lower energy density of materials that already include their own oxidiser (such as gunpowder and TNT), where the mass of the oxidiser in effect adds dead weight, and absorbs some of the energy of combustion to dissociate and liberate oxygen to continue the reaction. This also explains some apparent anomalies, such as the energy density of a sandwich appearing to be higher than that of a stick of dynamite.

### Energy densities ignoring external components

This table lists energy densities of systems that require external components, such as oxidisers or a heat sink or source. These figures do not take into account the mass and volume of the required components as they are assumed to be freely available and present in the atmosphere. Such systems cannot be compared with self-contained systems. These values may not be computed at the same reference conditions. Most of them seem to be higher heating value (HHV).

Energy densities of energy media
Storage type Specific energy (MJ/kg) Energy density (MJ/L) Peak recovery efficiency % Practical recovery efficiency %
Antimatter 1.80 1011 9.266032 10104
Hydrogen, liquid[9] 141.86 8.491
Hydrogen, at 690 bar and 15°C[9] 141.86 4.5
Hydrogen, gas[9] 141.86 0.01005
Diborane[10] 78.2
Beryllium 67.6 125.1
Lithium borohydride 65.2 43.4
Boron[11] 58.9 137.8
Methane (1.013 bar, 15 °C) 55.6 0.0378
Natural gas 53.6[12] 0.0364
LNG (NG at −160 °C) 53.6[12] 22.2
CNG (NG compressed to 250 bar/~3,600 psi) 53.6[12] 9
LPG propane[13] 49.6 25.3
LPG butane[13] 49.1 27.7
Gasoline (petrol)[13] 46.4 34.2
Polypropylene plastic 46.4[14] 41.7
Polyethylene plastic 46.3[14] 42.6
Crude oil (according to the definition of ton of oil equivalent) 46.3 37[12]
Residential heating oil[13] 46.2 37.3
Diesel fuel[13] 45.6 38.6
100LL Avgas 44.0[15] 31.59
Gasohol E10 (10% ethanol 90% gasoline by volume) 43.54 33.18
Lithium 43.1 23.0
Jet A aviation fuel[16]/kerosene 42.8 33
Biodiesel oil (vegetable oil) 42.20 33
DMF (2,5-dimethylfuran)Template:Clarify 42[17] 37.8
Polystyrene plastic 41.4[14] 43.5
Body fat metabolism 38 35 22[18]
Butanol 36.6 29.2
Gasohol E85 (85% ethanol 15% gasoline by volume) 33.1 25.65{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst $B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}|| || Graphite 32.7 72.9 Coal, anthracite[19] 32.5 72.4{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst date=__DATE__ |$B=

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Silicon[20] 32.2 75.1
Aluminum 31.0 83.8
Ethanol 30 24
Polyester plastic 26.0[14] 35.6
Magnesium 24.7 43.0
Coal, bituminous[19] 24 20
PET plastic 23.5 (impure)[21]
Methanol 19.7 15.6
Hydrazine (toxic) combusted to N2+H2O 19.5 19.3
Liquid ammonia (combusted to N2+H2O) 18.6 11.5
PVC plastic (improper combustion toxic)Template:Clarify 18.0[14] 25.2
Wood[22] 18.0
Peat briquette[23] 17.7
Sugars, carbohydrates, and protein metabolism{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst $B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}||17||26.2 (dextrose)|||22[24] || Calcium{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst$B=

{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}||15.9||24.6|| ||

Glucose 15.55 23.9
Dry cow dung and cameldung 15.5[25]
Coal, lignite{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst $B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}||14.0|| || || Sodium (burned to wet sodium hydroxide) 13.3 12.8 Sod peat 12.8 Nitromethane 11.3 Sulfur (burned to sulfur dioxide)[26] 9.23 19.11 Sodium (burned to dry sodium oxide) 9.1 8.8 Battery, lithium-air rechargeable 9.0[27] Household waste 8.0[28] Zinc 5.3 38.0 Iron (burned to iron(III) oxide) 5.2 40.68 Teflon plastic (combustion toxic, but flame retardant) 5.1 11.2 Iron (burned to iron(II) oxide) 4.9 38.2 ANFO 3.7 Battery, zinc-air[29] 1.59 6.02 Liquid nitrogenTemplate:Clarify 0.77[30] 0.62 Compressed air at 300 bar (potential energy) 0.5 0.2 >50%{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst$B=

{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}

Latent heat of fusion of ice{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst $B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }} (thermal)||0.335||0.335|| || Water at 100 m dam height (potential energy) 0.001 0.001 85-90%{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst$B=

{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}

Storage type Energy density by mass (MJ/kg) Energy density by volume (MJ/L) Peak recovery efficiency % Practical recovery efficiency %

Divide joule metre−3 by 109 to get MJ/L. Divide MJ/L by 3.6 to get kWh/L.

## Energy density of electric and magnetic fields

Electric and magnetic fields store energy. In a vacuum, the (volumetric) energy density (in SI units) is given by

${\displaystyle U={\frac {\varepsilon _{0}}{2}}{\mathbf {E} }^{2}+{\frac {1}{2\mu _{0}}}{\mathbf {B} }^{2}}$

where E is the electric field and B is the magnetic field. The solution will be in Joules per cubic metre. In the context of magnetohydrodynamics, the physics of conductive fluids, the magnetic energy density behaves like an additional pressure that adds to the gas pressure of a plasma.

In normal (linear and nondispersive) substances, the energy density (in SI units) is

${\displaystyle U={\frac {1}{2}}({\mathbf {E} }\cdot {\mathbf {D} }+{\mathbf {H} }\cdot {\mathbf {B} })}$

where D is the electric displacement field and H is the magnetizing field.

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## Footnotes

1. Template:Cite web
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9. College of the Desert, “Module 1, Hydrogen Properties”, Revision 0, December 2001 Hydrogen Properties. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
10. Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997), Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed) (page 164)
11. Template:Cite web
12. Envestra Limited. Natural Gas. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
13. IOR Energy. List of common conversion factors (Engineering conversion factors). Retrieved 2008-10-05.
14. Template:Cite web
15. Template:Cite web
16. Template:Cite web
17. Template:Cite web
18. Template:Cite web
19. Template:Cite web
20. Silicon as an intermediary between renewable energy and hydrogen
21. Template:Cite web
22. Template:Cite web
23. Template:Cite web
24. Template:Cite web
25. Template:Cite web
26. Anne Wignall and Terry Wales. Chemistry 12 Workbook, page 138. Pearson Education NZ ISBN 978-0-582-54974-6
27. {{#invoke:Citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=journal }}
28. David E. Dirkse. energy buffers. "household waste 8..11 MJ/kg"
29. Template:Cite web
30. C. Knowlen, A.T. Mattick, A.P. Bruckner and A. Hertzberg, "High Efficiency Conversion Systems for Liquid Nitrogen Automobiles", Society of Automotive Engineers Inc, 1988.

## External references

### Density data

• ^ "Aircraft Fuels." Energy, Technology and the Environment Ed. Attilio Bisio. Vol. 1. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1995. 257–259
• "Fuels of the Future for Cars and Trucks" - Dr. James J. Eberhardt - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy - 2002 Diesel Engine Emissions Reduction (DEER) Workshop San Diego, California - August 25–29, 2002

### Books

• The Inflationary Universe: The Quest for a New Theory of Cosmic Origins by Alan H. Guth (1998) ISBN 0-201-32840-2
• Cosmological Inflation and Large-Scale Structure by Andrew R. Liddle, David H. Lyth (2000) ISBN 0-521-57598-2
• Richard Becker, "Electromagnetic Fields and Interactions", Dover Publications Inc., 1964